Cooking demo to benefit Valley Chamber's WIN Council Entrepreneurial Grant Fund

Join us for a special FUNdraiser Virtual Party featuring Wendy DiCarlo of Pampered Chef from 7-9 p.m. May 6. 

A portion of the proceeds will benefit the WIN Council Entrepreneurial Grant Fund.

The Women in Networking Entrepreneurial Grant program provides financial assistance to women 18 years of age or older whose business is located in the Greater Valley towns of Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Derby, Oxford, Seymour, or Shelton. 

The money is intended as grant-in-aid for expenses to enhance the applicant's current business or to start a business. 

The grant may be used for expenses such as equipment, marketing, training/certification/recertification courses necessary to reach the applicant's business goals.

Since its inception in 2004, the WIN Entrepreneurial Grant has supported the dreams of 61 women-owned businesses through grants and scholarships totaling close to $60,000. 

Due the members’ outstanding passion for philanthropy and helping others, in 2007 the Grant Committee established the WIN Entrepreneurial Grant Fund through the Valley Community Foundation to ensure it will continue for future generations.

The initial grant of $500 allowed a young massage therapist to purchase a credit card machine to allow for safer transactions with her clients. Since that time, the program has supported the purchases of items such as commercial grade mixers, refrigerators, and computer equipment to assistance with marketing campaigns, industry certifications, and scholarships to WBDC training sessions with past grants ranging in size from $500 to $2,400.

Each year the Council hosts a series of fundraising events to support both current year grant awards with any additional monies going towards the Foundation Fund.

The WIN (Women In Networking) Council was formed in 2002 as a way to share hurdles unique to women in business by providing a warm, friendly atmosphere that is supportive, educational and dynamic. 

Members are a mix of female entrepreneurs, business owners, and key players in B2B services. WIN is a committee of the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Women-owned business in the Valley can message the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce with their email or mailing address for a copy of the 2021 application. 

Application due date is Oct.1. Distribution of funds will be in early December 2021.

This is shared from a Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce press release.

'Turnback Tuesday' features businesses near 'Derby Junction'

Turnback Tuesday give us two views of the corner of Derby Avenue and Main Street in the early 1900s.

At 5 Main St., the beverage business (saloon) was owned by James D. McCarthy from 1896 until 1925 when he changed it to a cigar and tobacco establishment.

At 3 Main St. starting in 1907, Mrs. Mary E. Colwell ran a confectionary/lunch business until 1934. At 1 Main St. were various grocery and meat markets, run earlier by Herson C. Osborn and later by Davey Brothers. Above these businesses were rooms for rent.

This corner was also part of the busy intersection called "Derby Junction" where the trolley and trains all stopped.

Just think of this corner as your one stop for shopping for food, sweets, and drinks.

Thanks to the Derby Public Library staff for sharing interesting local history each week.

My Sister's Place in Ansonia posts weekly sales

 My Sister's Place Thrift Store and Donation Center is located at 380 Main St., Ansonia. 

All proceeds benefit BHcare's The Umbrella Center for Domestic Violence Services.

Derby Public Library to host lecture on history of recognition of veterans

DERBY - Derby Public Library will host Honor our Veterans at "The Last Full Measure," at 6:30 p.m. May 3.

Prof. Hamish Lutris discusses the ways veterans of U.S. wars have been recognized for their service, and how that recognition has changed over time.

Register here https://bit.ly/3a7xgQG by 4:30 p.m. May 2, to receive the Zoom link and password. #lestweforget2021

This is shared from the Derby Public Library Facebook page.

Seymour Public Library to host online Food Explorers class on baking cupcakes

SEYMOUR - Join Katie, Registered Dietitian from Food Explorers, at 4:30 p.m. May 7 to make Strawberry Stuffed Cupcakes! 

This program is hosted by Seymour Public Library.

Yep, these cupcakes are stuffed with an entire strawberry. 

You’ll need the following ingredients: flour, baking soda, baking powder, butter, sugar, 2 eggs, milk, plain Greek yogurt, powdered sugar, strawberries (1 pound) and heavy cream. 

This frosting is made from whipped cream, but can be a buttercream if preferred, which would require 1 stick of butter instead of heavy cream.”

Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/.../tZUqc...

This is shared from Seymour Public Library's Facebook page.

Derby Public Library offers weekly scavenger hunt fun

 

Ansonia High School grad to teach political science at Vanderbilt University

Shared from a post on Facebook by Ansonia High School music teacher Maria Tangredi:

Congratulations to AHS Music Department Alum John Dearborn on his new job as Assistant Professor of Political Science at Vanderbilt University.

John is the Valedictorian of the AHS Class of 2009. He completed his undergraduate degree at UConn in the honors program and later earned his Ph.D. from Yale.

Congratulations and all the best to John in his new teaching position!

Reading of graphic novels for teens slated via Zoom at Derby Public Library

DERBY - From 3:30-4:30 p.m. May 12 and 26, the Derby Public Library invites all young adults ages 12 and above to virtual gatherings for the reading/showing of Classic Graphic Novels. 

Zoom access links will be provided via email three days prior to meeting dates. 

Sign up at the library’s Events Calendar at www.derbypubliclibrary.org. 

For more information call 203-736-1482.

This is a press release from Tony DeLos, young adult librarian, Derby Public Library.